Catherine Merrill - Figurative Clay Forms

November 10, 2001

Working with a live model, this workshop focuses on techniques for making dynamic and expressive figurative clay forms. Participants draw and paint on clay slabs and build free-standing figures. Working with polychrome terra sigilattas and colored clay, students will explore the rich and varied surfaces possible in low fire sculpture.

Individual attention – handouts will be given – all levels welcome.

Artist Statement:

As in primitive cultures, where people made art to help them understand life, death, and the events of their lives, my current work explores themes of loss: loss of life, loss of love, and loss of illusions. Using pairs of figures, diptychs and multiple fragments to create a whole, both free standing sculptures and wall pieces explore the theme of the Double, telling a story through visual dialog.

Artist Bio:

Catherine Merrill is a ceramic sculptor, functional potter, teacher, juror. Writer and world traveler, with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. Her nationally exhibited work explores the human figure. Recent shows include the Sanchez Art Center, Mill Valley Sculpture Garden and the Artery in California the Louisville Visual Art Association, the Kansas City Art Institute, the Ilk Gallery in Denver (NCECA 2000) and the Baltimore Clay Works. She has been published in Ceramics Art and Perception and the Studio Potter.

Merrill currently teaches at Walnut Creek Civic Arts and has presented figurative sculpture workshops at the Kansas City Art Institute, Palo Alto Art Center, Mendocino Art Center, San Francisco City College, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Worcester Center for Crafts and other art centers and colleges around the country. She has been selected for a residency at the XV Encuentro Internacional Terracota 2001 in Santiago, Cuba, where she will be a featured demonstrator.